Opening Hours

The Main Library is used for joint English and Library lessons for students from Year 7 to 9 and for research-based lessons for all years in other subjects. Before school, during breaks and lunch-times and after school the Library is open for all students to use. It is a central hub in school in which students can come to do their school work at tables and on computers; read magazines and books; borrow DVDs and take part in the different groups that run through the week, including the Reading and Spellbinding Groups; Comics and Excelsior Award Club; Creative Writing Club; Poetry Club; Classics Club; Games Club; and Farming Club.

The Sixth Form Library

The Sixth Form Library is a quiet but welcoming space with computers and plentiful desk space supporting independent study. It is well-equipped with books, magazines, journals and DVDs enabling students to study subjects at a higher level. The librarians help Sixth Form students with higher level research skills including referencing their work and writing bibliographies and learning how to best find and retrieve relevant information using different digital resources. Skills such as these are significant to certain aspects of their current work (for example, the Extended Project Qualification) and also have been found to help ease the transition from school to university.

Activities and Events

Special reading-related activities and events run through the school year, including World Book Day, National Poetry Day, Roald Dahl Day, Harry Potter Night, Scholastic book fairs, reading schemes, themed competitions and special showings of literary film adaptations.

Author events

We also very much enjoy hosting author events. Having the opportunity to meet and hear an author talk about the books that they have written, what inspires them and how they get their ideas has a very profound effect on students' enthusiasm for reading for pleasure.

We also take students on trips to see authors elsewhere and these have included Rick Riordan, Jacqueline Wilson, Malorie Blackman, Gill Lewis, Sophie McKenzie, Paul Stewart, Chris Riddell and Sally Gardner.

Print and Digital Resources

The following resources are available for students:

A wide range of up-to-date fiction, with classics as well as contemporary novels for all ages and abilities

Non-fiction books across a range of subjects and including popular autobiographies

The libraries' print resources are searchable, along with useful educational web-links and ebooks, on our catalogue Eclipse from home or in school. When a student logs into his or her personal library account, they will also be able to see if they have any books or dvds on loan; they can renew a book; reserve a book to borrow and look at their past loans.

Reading Recommendations

Reading Recommendations

If you are struggling to find a book to enjoy, don't worry! The right book is out there, you just haven't found it yet! Drop in the Library to see one of the librarians who will point you to the types of books you might like and show you books that other students with similar interests have enjoyed. You can also email us for guidance: librarian@qes.org.uk

Below are reading recommendations made by students based on their own favourite books. You may find some inspiration here! Most of the books are available in the Library to loan and, as always, if you see a book that you like but we don't have it, please let us know and we will order it.